Clock calendar



Feb. 14, 1939. H, A LER 2,147,280

CLOCK CALENDAR Filed Feb. 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATS ATTORNEYS Feb. 14,. 1939. BASLER 2,147,280

CLOCK CALENDAR Filed Feb. 17, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, /e/ir /ifaslezr BY@%M ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 14, 1939. H. BASLER 2,147,280

CLObK CALENDAR Filed Feb 17, 1956 5 SheetsSheet 3 ATTORN E Y5.

Feb. 14, 1939. H, BASLER 2,147,280

. CLOCK CALENDAR Filed Feb. 17, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet s \Lv A INVENTOR, fiwyflas/ezr ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOCK CALENDAR Henry Baaler, Kansas City, Mo. Application February 1'7, 1936, Serial No. 64,257

6 Claims. (01. 40-112) This invention relates to chronometers and particularly to a clock which will correctly indicate the year, the month, the day of the month, the day of the week, hour, minute and second, so

5 long as suitable driving power, such as a synchronous electric motor is provided.

It is an accepted fact that each of our calendar years has a duration of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 48 seconds. 7 I

10 To compensate for the uneven time of the astronomical year as compared with days, the Gregorian calendar, now ingeneral use, pro vides that the normal year shall consist of 365 days and every year divisible by four is a leap year, and contains 366 days, except that the centesimal years are leap years only when the number of the year is divisible by 400. Therefore, only one in each four successive centesimal years will be a leap year having 366 days, while the 29 other three will haveonly 365 days. For example, the years l600, 2000, 2400 would have 366 days, while the intermediate centesimal years would have 365 days.

- The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a clock having mechanism that. will indefinitely and correctly indicate the time, including the year, the day of the month and day of the week so long as a properly timed motive power is provided as a driving force.

Another object is the provision of a chronometer mechanism that will, when driven, automatically make all the necessary changes in the indicating discs to show the proper day of the week, day of the month and the year correspond- 35 ing with the Gregorian calendar.

A further object is the provision of a clock that will automatically indicate 366 days for each centesimal year divisible by 400 and will indicate 365 days for all other oentesimal years. Other objects are the provision of a clock that is simple and economical in construction, easy to set, and adapted to function to take care of all time corrections as set forth in the Gregorian 45 calendar.

- .With these objects in view, as well as others that will appear during the course of the specification, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

5 Figure 1 is a face view of the clock dial with its associated parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clock mechanism in which some of the parts are omitted for clearness and some are in section.

55 Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the clock with the dial and certain of the other parts removed for cleamess.

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of a part of the clock mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the clock mecha- 5 nism with some of the parts omitted and with some parts broken away for clearness.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of certain of the members making up the train of timing parts.

Fig. 'Iis a partial side elevation of the clock mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the chronometer mechanism with parts omitted.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the hand-carrying shaft and sleeves and their assol5 ciated parts.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view of parts associated with the clutch control shaft.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the setting shaft with the associated parts in section.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation of a part of the timing mechanism, and,

Fig.13 is a detailed view of the month control disc and some of its associated parts.

Numeral 20 designates a frame to which the working parts are secured, all of which may be mounted in any suitable housing not shown. Carried by frame 20 at its posterior side is an electrically driven synchronous motor 22 of the usual type having field magnet 24 and armature 26. When supplied withthe properly timed electrical current from a source not shown, the movement of the motor will be synchronized therewith. Armature 26 is rigidly mounted on shaft 28, on which is secured for rotation therewith a fly wheel 30 and a pinion 32. Shaft 28 is mounted for rotation in the motor from plates 34 which are maintained in fixed, spaced-apart relation by spacing members 30. These plates 34 are in turn carried by frame 20 through the intermediacy of brackets 38. Pinion 32 intermeshes with gear 40 mounted on shaft 42, which is rotatably mounted in plates 34, and has at its outer end a starting knob 44. Mounted concentrically with and secured to gear 40 is a pinion 46 that meshes with gear 48 rotatably mounted on the shaft 50. Pinion 52 is rotatably mounted with gear 48 and engages gear 54, which in turn is fixed-on second hand shaft 56. Secured to'gear 54 and rotatable therewith is a pinion which 50 meshes with gear 60 secured to shaft 50.' The clock mechanism thus far described is substantially the same as that now in general use and it is from this point on that a new and novel arrangement of parts is provided. 55

Hub 5 62 of gear 60 is provided with ratchet teeth 64 at its outer end. Teeth 64 engage teeth 66 formed on hub 60 of a pinion 10 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 50. Ratchet teeth 64 and 66 are adapted to engage, thereby serving as a driving clutch to drive pinion 10. The ratchet teeth are normally held in the operative position by meansof sleeve 12 carried by hub 62, which sleeve has an inturned flange 14 that engages shoulder 16 of hub 68. By engaging knob 18 secured to the outer end of shaft 50, the shaft may be moved longitudinally and flange 14 moved from shoulder 16 to groove 60 to disengage the clutch for reasons hereinafter set forth. The clutch may be re-engaged by pressing inwardly on knob 18 to cause flange 14 to disengage groove and again engage shoulder 16.

Pinion 10 meshes with gear 82 which is rigidly mounted on the minute hand sleeve 89 which in turn is mounted for rotation on second hand shaft 56. Securely attached to gear 82 is a pinion 84 which meshes with gear 86 rigidly mounted on shaft 88. This shaft extends through plates 34 and is provided with a rigidly attached toothed clutch member 90 adapted to engage toothed clutch member 92 carried by sleeve member 94 rotatably mounted on the outer end of shaft 08. Sleeve member 94 is provided at its outer end with an operating crank-96. It will be observed that clutch member 92 is spaced apart from plate 34 a distance suffioient to permit sleeve 94 to be moved longitudinally a distance sumcient to disengage clutch members 90 and 92, thus permitting rotary movement of clutch member 90 without rotating crank 96.

Securely afixed to the inner end of shaft 08 is a pinion 98 that meshes with gear I00 mounted on the hour hand sleeve IOI, carried by shaft 56, as clearly shown in Fig. 2-. concentrically mountted with and secured to gear I00 is a pinion I02 which in turn meshes with gear I04 rotatably mounted on stud shaft I06. This gear I04 is in driving relation with gear I08'having an axially aligned pinion hub H0 and mounted for rotation on stud shaft II2. Pinion IIO drives gear II4 having integral therewith pinion II6, which is mounted for rotation on shaft II8. Pinion II 6 meshes with gear I20 mounted on shaft I22 that is rotatably mounted in frame 20 and bracket I24. Through the train of gears just described this shaft I22 is caused to rotate once every twenty-four hours and it is by this accurately rotated shaft that much of the timing of the parts hereinafter set forth is obtained.

Rigidly mounted on shaft I22 is an offset cam I26 having an adjustable cam member or trip arm I28 which serves to provide close adjustment of the indicating mechanism as hereinafter set forth. This trip arm is rotatably mounted on shaft I22 and is provided with an arcuate slot I30 through which securing set screws I32 extend to engage threaded holes in cam I26. Positioned in operative relationwith cam I 26 is an operating plunger I30 slidably mounted in housing I35, which is secured to frame 20. Plunger I39 extends through housing I 36 and is provided at its end adjacent cam I26 with a roller I38 which normally bears against said cam face while its other end is provided with a flexibly mounted tooth-engaging member I60. A compression spring I42 is mounted in housing I36 so as to exert a pressure against shoulder I414 formed on plunger I 34 to maintain the roller against cam I26. Spring I92 is positioned on I39 before I 59 is inserted into housing I 36 and has its one end held aia'aeeo against movement by I36, while its other end rests against shoulder I44.

In order to obtain an accurate timing of the release of plunger I34, a squared stud I46, extending laterally from plunger I34 adjacent roller I38, is adapted to engage the face I48 of arm I28. This member I28 is so positioned relative to cam I26 as to carry roller I38 beyond the ofiset in cam I26, thereby effecting a sharp release of the plunger which could not be obtained by the use of the roller alone. Securely attached to frame 20 and carried thereby, is a shaft I50 which is disposed transversely to the movement of plunger I34 and carries a rotatably mounted ratchet wheel I52 which carries for rotation therewith, a disc I54, having thereon characters I5I to indicate the days of the week. Since it is desired to move the disc one space each twentyfour hours, the ratchet wheel is provided with seven teeth so that with each movement of plunger I34 a successive vday is shown through an opening I56 formed in the clock face or dial I58. On the rear side of disc I54 is a flange I53, having seven equally spaced undulations I55, into which the spring actuated roller I51 rides to maintain disc I54 in proper position to display the characters I5I thereon. Roller I51 is rotatably mounted on arm I59 pivoted at I6I to the frame. This arm I59 is urged toward I53 by spring I63.

The following mechanism has to do with the registering of the day of the month and is operated by shaft I22, which rotates once each twenty-four hours. Stud shaft I60 is rigidly afflxed at its inner end to frame 20 and extends transversely thereto. Mounted in axial alignment for rotation on shaft I60 is a series of toothed discs I62, I64 and I66 and I68. The discs I64, I66 and I68 have but one tooth each, for reasons hereinafter set forth. These teeth are 326; 328, 330 respectively. These discs are spaced apart by means of cams I10, I12 and I14. Also, cam I16 is positioned intermediate disc I62 and frame 20 and adjacent the outer end of shaft I60 and associated with disc I68, is a cam I18. All

of these discs and cams are interconnected and rotate as one unit on shaft I60.

Disc I62 is provided with thirty-one equally spaced ratchet teeth I 80 which are engageable by the spring actuated member I82, carried by plunger I84, which in turn is slidably mounted in housing I86. This housing I86 is securely attached to frame 20 by means of screws I88. The outer end of plunger I66 is provided with a roller I90 which normally rides on the periphery of cam I92 due to the action of compression spring I90 which rests against shoulderv I96 formed on plunger I and the end flange of housing I86. Since this cam is rigidly mounted on shaft I22 which rotates once every twenty-four hours and has an ofiset I96, plunger I89 will move outwardly each twenty-four hours, thereby causing disc I62 to move up one tooth each day. In order to obtain an accurate timing of the release of plunger I88, a square faced pin 200 is carried by plunger I95 and adapted to engage face 202 of the auxiliary cam 20% which is adjustably carried by cam I 92. By means of this auxiliary cam, roller I 90 clears the high point of cam I 92 and is in position to drop to the low point of the cam without interference.

Rotatably mounted on shaft I60 and secured to cam I18 is a day indicator wheel 206, having numerals 208 that are successively registered with opening 2I0 in dial I58 to indicate the day of the month. The rear side of 206 is provided with an member I82 is reciprocated once each twenty-' four hours as described above, disc I82 will make one complete revolution each thirty-one days. It

is apparent that this complete revolution of disc .I82 as operated by I82 will properly indicate the time period of the seven months having thirtyone days. However, in order to make a complete revolution of disc I82 when the other five months of the year having less than thirty-one days are being indicated, it becomes necessary to provide means for rotating disc I82 through part of its revoltuion by means other than i 82. For this purpose the following mechanism is provided.

Mounted on frame 28 in parallel relation with shaft I88 is a stud shaft 2 I 8, on which is rotatably mounted a ratchet wheel 228. This ratchet wheel is provided with twelve teeth 222 which are equally spaced and indicate respectively the twelve months of the year. Securely attached to ratchet wheel 228 and rotatable therewith is a disc 224,

hav ng the twelve months of the year 228 indicated thereon in equally spaced relation. These months are adapted to be registered successively with opening 228 formed through dial I58.

Ratchet wheel 228 is rotated one tooth at a time by the action of cam I18 and associated parts. These associated parts include a reciprocable plunger 238 carried by cylinder 232 which is rigidly carried by frame 28 through the intermediacy of bracket 234. Plunger 238 is provided at one of its ends with a roller 238 which is held in contact with cam I18 by the compression spring 238 that is interposed between end wall 248 of cylinder 232 and shoulder 242 formed on plunger 238. The other end of the plunger is provided with aresil-1 i'ently mounted tooth-engaging member 244 which is adapted to engage teeth 222 and rotate the ratchet 228 through thirty degrees in one direction at each complete reciprocal movement of the plunger.

To prevent backward movement of ratchet wheel 228 and its associated parts, a corrugated d sc 248 attached to disc 224 is adapted to be engaged by a tension roller 248 mounted on arm 258. There are twelve corrugations on this disc 248 corresponding to the twelve teeth on the ratchet and so positioned as to properly retain the month characters in the proper register position with the opening 228. Plunger 238 is also provided wth transversely disposed square faced pin 252 which is adapted to engage face 254 of auxiliary cam 258 that is adjustably positioned by means of screws 258 to overlap offset 288 of cam I18 to permit a more accurate and definite release of plunger 238. It is evident that with this structure just described the months of the year will be successively shown through opening 228 formed through the dial. This is due to the fact that all the rotating parts on shaft I88 make a complete revolution for each month of the year regardless of the number of days in the current month.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 2l8 and rotatable with ratchet wheel 482 which is caused to rotate once per year by mechanism hereinafter described is a disc 282 having a grooved periphery 284. Pivoted below 282 on stud shaft 288 is a lever arm 288, having a roller 218 mounted thereon and adapted to ride on the periphery of disc 282 and regulate the position of lever 288 which is normally held in the raised position by means of expansion spring 212 engaging the free end of said lever at 214 and the stationary pin 218 carried by frame 28. Connected to lever 288 intermediate its free end and roller 218 is a standard 218 which is pivotally connected to plate 288 by pin 282. Plate 288 is reciprocably mounted in a frame 284 carried by housing 288, which in turn is rigidly carried by frame 28 through the means of bracket 288. The movement of disc 282 and ratchet 482 which rotate together is controlled by means of disc 245 having twelve equally spaced corrugations which are adapted to receive the spring tensioned roller 241 mounted on pivoted arm 28L Mounted in housing 288 are the plunger rods 298, 292 and 294 which are respectively in alignment with discs 184, I88 and I88, and positioned substantially perpendicular to plate 288 against which they are adapted to abut under certain conditions as hereinafter set forth. Bell crank levers 298, 298 and 388, all mounted for oscillation on pin 382, are. interconnected with plungers 288, 282 2nd 294 respectively by means of pins 384 (sa The lower arms 388, 388 and 3I8 of hell cranks- 288, 298 and 388 respectively have rollers 3I2, 3I4 and M8 respectvely. These rollers 3I2, 3M and 318 are in substantially axial alignment and contact the surfaces of cams I14, I12 and I18 respectively and are held thereagainst by means of compression springs 3l8 mounted in housing 288. Each spring 3I8 is associated with one of the plungers 298, 282 and 294 in such a manner as to control their respective bell crank levers. Re ferring to Fig. 12, it will be observed that cams I18, I12 and I14 are respectively provided with offsets 328, 322 and 324 which are arranged in relatively spaced-apart positions so as to successively drop as the rotary assemblage including said cams is rotated as described above. The spacings of these offsets relative to the ratchet tooth notches 328, 329 and 338 on discs I84, I88 and I88, Fig. 5, respectively is such that when their respective bell crank lever is operated by the action of a spring 3I8 as above described, then the spring-actuated detents 332, 334 and 338 respectively carried byeplungers 294, 292 and 298 will success vely engage notches 338, 328 and 328 to move the wheel unit comprising cams I18 etc., and discs I82, etc. up one notch. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 8 that notches 326, 328 and 338 are just one tooth apart so as to be in position to be operated by ther respective detents through the action of the contributing rocker arms 296, 298 and 388. Each of the detents 332, 334 and 338 will be effective to move the said wheel unit forward a distance corresponding to onetooth of disc l62 when the month has but twenty-eight days. If the month has twentynine days, then the detent 332 will not operate to engage notch 338 to operate I82. However, detents 334 and 338 will operate to move I82 two teeth, thus placing it in position to start the new month on the first day as indicated by the numeral registering with opening 2I8 on the dial.

In like manner it will be noted that when there are thirty days in the month, only the detent 338 will be in position to move disc I 82 forward one notch to make the complete revolution of disc I82 inorder that the numeral one on the day indicator wheel 288 will be properly positioned to start the succeeding first day of the month.

Referring to Fig. 12, it will be noted that the ofisets 32t, 322 and 82 3 are so related that the bell crank levers operate successively and at intervals corresponding to the lead of one of the teeth it!) of let. Since it is desired and unnecessary to prevent the operation of certain of the levers 2%, 298 and 3% in order to maintain the proper relations of the indicia on cer= tain of the indicator discs, the following mechanism is provided.

Referring to Fig. 7 in which all the mechanism is in the position it would attain February 29, 2000, it will be noted that the plungers 29d, 2% and rail, shown in dotted lines, are respectively in alignment with the vertical axes of openings 26c and 2 32 formed through plate 283i? so that when the openings are in horizontal alignment with the piungers, the plungers will pass through their respective opening and permit the operation of the associated bell crank lever. With the parts in the position shown, plunger 2% will abut plate 2%, thereby preventing the operation oi the parts associated therewith. Both plungers 292 and ice are in register with their respective openings and will therefore be permitted to operate and through the train of mechanism controlled thereby, cause disc iGE to he moved up two teeth, as is required to complete its revo-' lution, as described above. For moving plate 2% to the required position to control the movement of plungers 291i, 2% and 29 3 as described above, disc 262 is provided at its periphery 26 3 with depressions, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 13.

The high surfaces 3%, 386, 368, b and (see Fig. 13) are of equal radial arcs and serve to maintain lever 268 in a position against the action of spring M2 and to so place plate 2% that none of the plungers will operate to cause the rotation of disc I62. Depressions 356, 356, 358 and 366, Fig. 13, are of the same depth and permit movement of 266 sufflciently to allow the operation of plunger 296, Fig. 8, to move day disc I62 one notch. These depressions correspond to the months April, June, September and November, having thirty days, which would require the movement of I62 only thirty teeth, thereby making it necessary to step I62 up one tooth before starting the next month on the first day, as indicated on the day indicator wheel 266.

Depression 364 is of a greater depth than the other depressions to allow a greater movement of lever 268, and is so positioned on the disc 262 as to correspond with the month of February which normally has twenty-eight days, and therefore requires the movement of I62 through an are equal to three of the teeth I86 to properly position wheel 266 to display the numeral one on the first day of March. In Figs. 5, 7, 8, 12 and 13, the parts are set for February 29, 2000, which is a centesimal leap year and the roller 210 does not contact the disc periphery 264, but is spaced apart therefrom for reasons hereinafter set forth. During all years except leap years, roller 2'86 contacts the periphery of 262 throughout its complete revolution, which requires one years time, and when it rests in depression 364, all the plungers 296, 292 and 294 will register with their respective openings formed through plate 286 so that each plunger will function to move l62 forward one tooth as required when February has only twenty-eight days.

Referring to Fig. '7, it will be noted that plungers 296 and 292 are in register with their respective openings 238 and 246, while plunger 29 is 'trol disc 262.

aieaaso out of register with opening ZQZ. Should roller 23.6 be permitted to rest in the depression 86%, plate 288 would be moved upwardly, by actlonof spring 2Y2, and all three plungerswould register with their respective opening and each would operate' When any one of the plungers 2%, 292 or 29 operates, it is necessary for its respective notch 826, 326 or 336 to be in such a position that it will be engaged on the outward movement of the plunger and thereby cause disc net to rotate upon inward movement of the plunger.

The following operation occurs when the month has only 36 days. Referring now to Figs. 8 and 12 in which the relative position 0;? notches 826, and are clearly shown, when plunger 58 operates and moves disc i532 forward another tooth, detent 832 will drop into notch 336 in disc its. Cam ll 'l which is carried by shaft not and rotates with the disc H2 then releases bell crank lever 366 which in turn permits compression spring did to expand to move plunger 29 3 when the same is in register with opening M2 in plate 28o so that detent 332 will move disc i553 forward one tooth. This movement of disc i553 will cause disc 562 to be moved forward the desired extra tooth. Detent i552 is provided with a resilient shank which allows the detent i162 to ride over the tooth on disc M52 as the disc is moved forward. The detent 336 will now be in engagement with notch 328 and as soon as bell crank lever 29% is released by cam H2, because of the movement of disc H52 by plunger 296, then disc [I62 will again be moved one tooth forward as plunger 292 moves by the action of its spring 888. Since plunger 29 i is not in register with hole 232, it cannot operate, though its controlling bell crank lever 366i is released by cam i718.

In order to make clear the movements of ratchet wheel I62 and its associated indicating member 206 just described above, the steps will be set forth in their proper sequence. To start with, suppose the numeral 29 on wheel 266 is visible through opening 216 of the dial. The

action of plunger I86 first moves the numeral 30 on wheel 206 to the opening m, then plunger 296 (Figures 7 and 8) operates to move disc I62 forward one tooth, thereby causing the numeral 31 on wheel 266 to register. Plunger 292 also moves I62 forward one tooth so that the number one on 266 registers with opening 2M. It is apparent that by these movements of the mechanism the change from February 29th to March 1st has been made almost instantly.

The mechanism is so set as to make the change at exactly 12 oclock midnight. Should it be desired to change from February 28th to March 1st, it is very evident that this could be accomplished by the added action of plunger 294 which would be efiective when roller 210 rests at the bottom of depression 364, on non-leap years,

so as to position opening 242 in alignment with plunger 294 as described above.

Further reference will now be had to the con- Since this disc is in fixed position relative to ratchet wheel 402 (Fig. 6), having twelve equally spaced teeth 460,'and rotates a twelfth of a revolution with each full revolution of disc I62, it must follow that disc 262 will make a complete revolution each year. Since this disc 262 and its associated mechanism is set for February, it is apparent that the particular tooth 222 shown in engagement with member 244 will always be so engaged during February of each and every year and the depression 366 will maintain its proper relation to this particular tooth.

The same is true of all the teeth 222 and their respective corresponding disc surfaces. It will be observed that the high surfaces 348 and 352 are subtended by substantially a sixty degree angle, while the others are subtended by about a thirty degree angle. This becomes necessary because each month of the two pairs of successive months July and August and December and January have thirty-one days. The depth of depression 364 is substantially three times the depth of the other depressions, and normally will allow the maximum movement of plate 280, except during leap years when roller 218 will be held out of engagement with disc 262 as shown in Fig. 13 by means of the following mechanism.

A reciprocably mounted bar 365, carried by frame 28 through the intermediacy of the U- shaped bracket 366, is adiustably connected intermediate its ends by pin 361 to arm 310 of the offset, bell crank lever 368 pivoted at 312 to frame 28. This bar 365. is in alignment with plate 288, and adapted to contact therewith at certain times to hold roller 210 away from disc 262, against the action of spring 212 as shown in Fig. 5. The other arm 314 of lever 368 is provided with a roller 316 which rides on surfaces of a specially constructed cam 318 mounted for rotation on stud shaft 388 carried by frame 20 in parallel relation with shafts 218 and 168. Rigidly affixed to cam 318 at its opposite sides respectively by means of pin 386 is a spur gear 382 and an eccentric disc 384.

Cam 318 is caused to rotate once in four years by cam 116 which, as stated above, rotates once each month, through a train of mechanism comprising a lever 388 pivoted at 398 intermediate its ends to frame 28 and having at one of its ends a roller 392 adapted to rest on the cam surface of 116 to cause an oscillation of the lever as the cam rotates. Spring 394 attached at one of its ends to lever 388 and at its other end to pin 396 mounted in frame 28,- causes the roller to constantly contact the irregular cam surface. The other end of lever 388 is provided with pivoted pawl 398 which is adapted to be forced into operative engagement with teeth 488 of ratchet wheel 482 by spring 404. Wheel 482 is loosely mounted on shaft 218 and is provided with a concentric, spurtoothed hub 486 which meshes with intermediate gear 408 mounted for rotation on pin 418 carried by frame 28. This intermediate gear also meshes with gear 382.

Ratchet wheel 482 has twelve teeth and the cam is so constructed as to cause pawl 388 to move ratchet wheel 402 forward one tooth at each revolution of the cam which revolves once each month. Also the ratio of gears 382 and 486 is four to one. Therefore, gear 382 and its associated cam will rotate once each four years.

Cam 318 (Fig. has a concentric surface 412 throughout the major portion of its circumference and is provided with a short curved projec tion 414 which raises above surface 412. A groove 318 to ride under tension against the cam surfaces of cam 318.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that bar 365 is forced against plate 280 by means of cam 414 acting through bell crank lever 368 to cause roller 218 to be disengaged from cam surfaces 262. This above described functioning of the parts causes each four years to register twenty-nine days in February except in the three successive centesimal years when roller 316 passes through groove 416 as stated above.

The following mechanism is provided to cause roller 316 to pass through groove 416. A lever 426, pivoted intermediate its ends on pin 428, carried by frame 28, is provided at its one end with a roller 438 and at its other end with a loose pivot 432, by means of which it is secured to the upper end of bar 365. Referring especially to Figs. 5 and 8, it will be noted that the ratchet wheel 434 and disc 436 are secured together and mounted for rotation on shaft 158; Ratchet wheel 434 has twenty-five equally spaced teeth 438 for proper timing of the movement of certain parts as hereinafter set forth and which are adapted to be engaged by the spring mounted pawl 448 carried by reciprocable. plunger 442. Plunger 442 is mounted in a housing 444 in radial relation to shaft 388 and is provided at its outer end with a roller 446 which rides an eccentric disc 384 to cause a complete reciprocation of plunger 442 each four years. The length of travel of 442 is such that it causes the rotation of 434 through one tooth. To position and prevent an over running of ratchet 434, disc 448, having undulations 450 corresponding in number to the twentyfive teeth 438, is securely attached to ratchet wheel 434 and rotatable therewith. A positioning roller 452 mounted on the free end of arm 454 pivoted to 28 by means of pin 161 is urged into the depressions of undulations 450 by means of spring member 468. Plunger 442 is urged toward eccentric 384 by means of spring 460 mounted in housing 444 under compression and in such a position as to rest against collar 462 formed on plunger 442.

Roller 438 normally rests on the periphery of disc 436, due to the pull of spring 422, except when raised therefrom by cam projection 414 as described above. Disc 436 rotates once each hundred years and is provided with a recess 464 in its periphery, which on each centesimal year is in the path of travel of roller 438 which will enter therein, due to the pull of spring 422 unless otherwise prevented. .When, during each centesimal year not divisible by four hundred, 438 moves into recess 464, the roller 316 will, by the action of spring 422 and the resultant oscillation of arm 318 and arm 314 be moved into groove 416, thereby permitting the indicating mechanism to show twenty-eight days for February. This must occur for three successive centesimal years; however, on the fourth centesimal year, 438 must not be permitted to enter recess 464 and it is for this purpose that the following mechanism is provided.

Mounted on shaft 150 to rotate with disc 436 is a pinion 466 which meshes with gear 468, mounted on pm 418, carried by frame 20. The ratio of pinion 466 and gear 468 is one to four so that the gear 468 makes one complete revolu tion in four hundred years. Gear 468 is provided with a ledge 412 which once in four hundred years is so positioned adjacent recess 464 as to bridge across the same and serve as a support for the outer end of roller 430 which extends thereabove, while during the other three centesimal years of its revolution the ledge 6712 will be out of register with recess Q66, thereby permitting roller did to pass through groove tilt 5 as roller are enters recess 686, as described above. Supported by bracket did carried by frame 2b is a counting device 392 which successively displays the numerals are through opening file formed in dial iii-i3. This counter indicates the current year and can be made to indicate as large numerals as desired.

Referring to Figs. 5 and '7, it will be noted that a earn 3% is mounted on shaft did for rotation with ratchet 229, which rotates once each year. A rack. (182, reciprocably mounted in a bracket i185 carried by frame it has a roller filth at its upper end in engagement with cam G865. This reel: is in operative engagement with a pinion 388 rigidly mounted on shaft 5% of the well known counting device The operating lever 69 3 of this counting device is connected at one end to shaft 398 and at its other end with one end of a spring 3% which is secured at its other end to frame 23 by means of eyelet As rack 382 moves downwardly each year by the action of earn 3%, the spring set will be tensioned to actuate the counter so that it will show the next higher numeral, thereby, keeping a correct count of the years.

30 A second-hand carried by 5b, a minutehand 582 secured to sleeve 63 and an hour-hand 50d carried by sleeve llili are visible on the dial E56. The time of day may be definitely determined by the relation of these hands to the index numerals 5% on the face oi. the dial.

- It is apparent from the foregoing specification that this clock mechanism when properly driven by an accurately timed motor will, without any outside adjustments or interference, correctly indicate the year, month, day of month, day of week, hour, minute and second for an indefinite period of time, as provided in the Gregorian calendar.

As stated above, some of the figures in the 45 drawings show the clock mechanism with the parts in proper relative position as they would appear on February 29, 2000, while the other figures indicate the position of the parts as of Tuesday, May 21, 1935.

Many modifications in the trains of gears and other mechanisms used in obtaining the proper relative movements of the parts might be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, and it is desired that I be limited only by the terms of the appended clams.

claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a clock mechanism, a. rotatably mounted ratchet wheel having 31 ratchet teeth; timed operating means to move said wheel forward through a space of one tooth each day; operating means carried by said wheel; and mechanism including plungers operable by the operating means carried by said wheel, to move said wheel forward a predetermined number of teeth, whereby the wheel is rotated through 360 degrees each month of the year.

2. In a clock mechanism, a timed driving means; a ratchet wheel carrying a series of characters to indicate the day of the month adapted to be rotated through the space of one character each day by said driving means; three operating plungers, having driving means actu- Having thus described the invention, what is steel and controlled by said ratchet wheel, adapted to be separately released at each revolution of the ratchet wheel to rotate said ratchet wheel; and means operable to cause certain of said plungers to be made inoperative.

3. In a clock mechanism, a timed driving means; a rotatably mounted member carrying a series of thirty-one spaced-apart characters adapted to be positioned consecutively to indicate the current day of the month; means operable, by said driving means, to move said characters forward one character space each day; mechanism associated with the said rotatably mounted member; means carried by said rotatably mounted member to operate said mechanism to cause said rotatably mounted member to complete its revolution each month through 360 degrees when the current month has less than thirty-one days; and means operated by said driving means whereby one day is added to the month of February each Gregorian leap year.

4. In a clock mechanism, a timed driving means; a rotatably mounted member carrying a series or" thirty-one spaced-apart characters adapted to be positioned consecutively to indicate the current day of the month; means operable, by said driving means, to move said characters forward one character space each day; operating means carried by said rotatably mounted member; mechanism operable by said means carried by said rotatably mounted member to cause the said rotatably mounted member to complete its revolution each month through 360 degrees when the current month has less than thirty-one days; and means including a spring energized and controlled by said timed driving means whereby one day is added to the month of February during only such centesimal years that are evenly divisible by four hundred.

5. In a clock mechanism, a timed driving means; a rotatably mounted member carrying a series of thirty-one spaced-apart characters adapted to be positioned consecutively to indicate the current day of the month; means oper able, by said driving means, to move said characters forward one character space each day; operating means carried by said rotatably mounted member; mechanism operable by said means carried by said rotatably mounted member to cause the said rotatably mounted member to complete its revolution each month through 360 degrees when the current month has less than thirty-one days; and means including a spring energized and controlled by said timed driving means whereby one day is added to February each successive year that is evenly divisible by four except those centesimal years that are not evenly divisible by four hundred.

6. In a clock mechanism, a timed driving means; a rotatably mounted member carrying aseries of 31 spaced apart characters adapted to be positioned consecutively to indicate the current day of the month; means operable by said timed driving means to move said characters forward one character space each day; means including a power spring energized and controlled by said timed driving means operable to complete a full resolution of the character carrying member during months having less than 31 days; and means driven by said timed driving means and controllable by said character moving means whereby one day is added to the month of February each and every Gregorian leap year.

HENRY BASLER. 

